The Good Shepherd: Devotions Inspired by Psalm 23Àpẹrẹ

Our Home Away from Home 

By Josh Morris 

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 (NIV) 

“Congratulations on your new home,” the email read. My wife and I had recently signed the documents for our family's third house in just four years, but this house was different; it wasn’t ours—it was a lease. For the past 17 years, we have purchased the homes we lived in, but with a whirlwind move and new school year quickly approaching, we didn’t have that luxury. In fact, we agreed to the lease before we even saw the house in person! 

Our kids had big plans when they saw their new rooms, but we quickly dismissed those plans by explaining we won’t be here very long. No need to hang things on the wall or do any renovations to make the house better suit our needs. We reside in this house with a feeling that it is not our own, but while we are here, our family culture, rhythms, and traditions will remain the same. Still, we know we are only here temporarily. 

In a similar way, our time here on earth is relatively short when compared to the age and history of the planet. And it’s even shorter when compared to the eternity that awaits us on the other side of death. Once we are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ and accept Him as Lord, we become citizens of heaven. It’s tempting to think about the brevity of our earthly stay the way I think about my rental house: No need to make renovations of any kind. No need to settle in or feel ownership of this place since it doesn’t belong to us. This, however, is not the way Christ has called us to live out this life here on earth. 

When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them dominion over the land and the animals. They weren't leasing the land; they owned it. But they chose to give that ownership to the serpent—Satan—when they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thousands of years later, Satan tempted Jesus with the offer of giving back authority over the earth. (How audacious of Satan to offer Jesus authority that wasn't his to give!) The good news is Jesus didn't need Satan's permission to reclaim that authority. When Christ died on the cross, He reversed the consequences of the Fall and took back the keys to earth that Adam and Eve gave away. He restored what was lost and redeemed what was broken. 

Jesus has given you and me those keys to the kingdom, and we are called to bring His kingdom to earth! What we bind here on earth is bound in heaven, and what we loose here on earth is loosed in heaven as well (Matthew 16:19). Jesus partners with us and authorizes us to exercise kingdom actions here on earth; we have all of heaven on our side. 

So let’s not view earth as our temporary rental house anymore. The world needs major renovation, and we can’t look at God like the landlord who needs to come repair all the problems. God has given us ownership in His grand plans, and He wants us to use the power we have justly and be good stewards of this house. We can choose to improve it—to make it better. Although we are citizens of heaven and this is not our forever home, it is our home right now. 

When we fail to take ownership of the world God has given us, it’s like we’re giving His great gift right back to the enemy. Instead of adopting the ways of the world, our citizenship in heaven begs us to bring our heavenly culture and traditions to this place. 

So while you wait for the day you will see your heavenly home, trust that Christ has equipped you to be a good and charitable owner of your earthly home. Settle in and make it your own while it lasts. Congratulations on your new home! 

PRAYER 

Lord, I accept and receive my God-given responsibility to steward this land and the people You have placed in my life. I confess I have not always taken ownership of my actions and responsibilities, and I have often let circumstances go into disrepair. I commit to stewarding all You have given me and making this world better for all the days I am here. What You have created is stunningly beautiful, and I have often taken it for granted. So today, I reflect on the marvelous works of Your hands and Your imagination, and I commit to partnering with You to bring the kingdom of heaven to this place—my home. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION   

• Ask the Holy Spirit to show you ways you have not fully embraced your calling to bring heavenly practices into the world.   
• Ask the Holy Spirit to show you ways you can assist in the kingdom work of bringing a heavenly culture to the world around you.

Holy Spirit, what are You saying to me today?

MEMORY VERSE

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6